• Judges 2:13-20 – Summary of the cycle of the judges.
  • Quick facts about the judges
    • The tribes were surrounded by enemies. Judges 1:27-3:5
      • Judges 2:20-3:5 – God used these enemies to punish the Israelites for sin.
    • The same cycle keeps repeating.
    • The judges were mainly military leaders. Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 17:8-13; Judges 4:4-5; 3:9-11
    • Depending on how you count, there were 12-18 judges.
    • The judges seem to be local leaders. Judges 4:10; 7:23ff; 12:1
    • The time periods of the judges may have overlapped.
      • About 114 years of total oppression
      • About 296 years of total rest
  • Lessons we need today
    • Always choosing the please myself is a terrible way to live!
      • Judges 3:5
      • Judges 17:6; 21:25; 17:7-13
      • Judges 19-20 – Benjamin defeated and nearly destroyed
      • James 3:13-18
    • God is willing to punish and forgive
      • Judges 6:1-14; 7-8 – Gideon defeats the Midianites.
      • God was willing to punish His people when they sinned. Hebrews 10:31
      • The cycle:
        • Judges 5:31b – Rest and peace
        • Judges 6:1 – Sin → oppression (Judges 6:2-5)
        • Judges 6:6-10 – Cries to God
        • Judges 6:11-14 – Judge to deliver
        • Repeat
      • God saw the horrible things in Judges and forgave.
      • God knows how to fix what is broken for everyone!
        • I John 4:14; I John 1:9